I have recently become obsessed with illustrator. I don’t know how we were never shown this programme at university.

Since starting my masters here is Barcelona, illustrator has become a vital tool for every presentation as we have to create so many mood boards for every idea we have. So I have been practicing, I am still not a pro but I am enjoying cutting out different pictures and putting them all together to create something new. Like this one. I recently watched one of my favourite film for the tenth time, The Party (1968) with Peter Sellers, so I grabbed a still image of the film and made this collage, a collage that represents most weekends here in Spain.

Two months ago I became part of the Miista Barcelona team and it’s been amazing. This brand has been an obsession of mine for over two years, but sadly I have always been too skint or just too bad at managing my finances to purchase a pair. But now that I am a part of it, you can imagine how excited I was when I got given my very own pair of Miista mules. I was over the moon. But anyhow, this is an appreciation post for the new autumn/winter collection. I got to take a peek at the collection really early on, and my god was I excited. The designs are to die for. Inspired by French artist Henri de Touluse-Lautrec, the shoes have a real victorian/circus/surrealist-esque touch to them.

“Silhouettes and materials come inside-out and back-to-front as the crossroads of humour and artistic representation are met with a practical sensibility. In a balancing act between now and then, AW18 draws parallels to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s unapologetic portrayal of the female form, naked or adorned, in a raw, barefaced celebration of difference, pleasure and sexual freedom.”

Barcelona has been absolutely crazy. It is actually teaching me how to be an adult, even though I have technically been an adult for seven years. But I swear that all the bad luck I’ve had has had its purpose. Everything happens for a reason, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself so I don’t go into desperation…

My bad luck has consisted of:

Acclaimed wedding dress designer making me work like a personal assistant for a month, and then refusing to pay me. (I learnt to stand my ground and take no shit from anyone, no matter how high up they are. I got my money)

Passing a job interview (for an amazing job to work as a social media moderator for a fashion online company) and then being put on hold for three weeks before giving me the contract. Crushed all my dreams.

Losing my phone in the club and thinking someone will find it and give it to the bouncers… what was I thinking! This is Spain not England. So I survived almost two weeks without a phone, and my replacement is an iPhone 5 with a broken back camera, so I can only take selfies from now on.

But anyway, I have learnt through all these hardships and I am now a wiser woman… well almost there.

Here is a picture that gives hope, our new addition to our humble flat.

If you are ever wondering around Shoreditch, London then make sure you head to Redchurch Street to check out Miista shoes; a Hackney based brand made with love in sunny España. Their designs are absolutely divine. Some are so simple and yet so chic and elegant. There is definitely a 60s/70s vibe to them, and the shades of mustard yellow are just to die for.

I visited their shop on Friday night as they were showcasing their collaboration with Giuseppe Palmisano, an Italian artist who has previously worked with known brands such as Ikea and Calzedonia. The exhibition featured an installation of a lot of legs, chairs and lights… and of course the lovely Miista shoes. I fell in love with every single pair, especially with the Carlota yellow suede boots. Check out their Instagram and web page for more!!

Summer 2017 has officially put its hat on and gone. As yesterday was such a nice day compared to the rest of the week, I took the chance to film a short clip wearing some of the staple items of this season.